Halo Wars is a real-time strategy (RTS) video game developed by Ensemble Studios and published by Microsoft Game Studios for the Xbox 360 video game console. It was released in Japan and Australia on February 26, 2009; in Europe on February 27; and in North America on March 3. The game is set in the science fiction universe of the Halo series in the year 2531, 21 years before the events of Halo: Combat Evolved. The player leads human soldiers aboard the warship Spirit of Fire in an effort to stop an ancient fleet of ships from falling into the hands of the genocidal alien Covenant.

In a surprise announcement at The Game Awards, 343 Industries revealed on stage that early access to Halo Wars: Definitive Edition, available to anyone who preorders the digital Halo Wars 2 Ultimate Edition, begins rolling out to Xbox One and Windows 10 PCs on Dec. 20!

Halo Wars was widely considered to be the one of the best console RTS games available and with Halo Wars: Definitive Edition, old fans and new can now experience the game remastered with all of its DLC, including those beautiful Blur cinematics.